Virtual memory?

H

heyman421

banned
Why is windows using so much virtual memory, and swap memory if there's still so much of my RAM left?

I want to add an extra gig to my computer, to speed things up while multi-tasking, but it bothers me that windows would rather use my SLOW hard drive for virtual memory than utilizing the memory i already have, let alone adding MORE.

So will windows actually USE the extra memory if i buy it, or is it going to continue to use my slow hard drive instead?

And if i go all out and buy 2 more gigs (so i have 3 gigs) can i just turn virtual memory and the swapfile off, so i no longer rely on my hard drive for memory purposes?

Oh, here's the pic of what it's doing now :(

untitledeu5.jpg


The hard drive that has windows on it is SLOW, so by using that much virtual memory and swap file, it's really slowing my system down.

And i have two faster hard drives, and know you can move your virtual memory and swap file to another drive, but i'm really anal retentive about keeping my faster two hard drives PERFECTLY defragged, so i don't have problems with burning dvd's at 16/18x.
 
in that case, it'll be worth it ;)

what's the difference between the swap file, and the virtual memory?

are they two things (like the screen above would lead me to believe?) or is one just a component of the other?
 
You can disable virtual memory even if you have less than 2GB. I've done so on my laptop with 512MB. Of course it runs out pretty quickly, but the same can even be said for a 2GB system. I have run out of RAM a couple times on my desktop...
 
What I don't understand is the same thing that the OP posted: why is so much Virtual Memory used when there's RAM left over? My old Win95 box left Virtual Memory totally alone until Windows and apps filled it up. XP, even with hardly any apps running, has tons of stuff in Virtual Memory.

I added 512MB of RAM to my XP box from the original 512MB it had. Things have run a bit faster, but I'd say maybe only like 20% or so. I thought there was some Registry tweak that forced XP to use RAM first and only put things in Virtual Memory afterwards. Anyone know about this?
 
that would really be ideal. that would put my reluctance to buy more ram to bed, while not having the dangers of running my computer with 0 virtual memory.

i just want the virtual memory to be a last resort, emergency precaution.
 
I wouldn't say running without a swap file is "dangerous". The last time I ran out, I was trying to open like 40-50 5MP pictures in Photoshop. I got a couple errors and had some problems getting Task Manager to pop up. After messing with it for a minute or two, I got Photoshop closed and reopened with less pictures :P
 
and that's with 2GB?

So 3GB is most likely not necessary, correct?

The screenshot above is my typical useage...... I'm really just looking for a speed boost by increasing my memory and disabling the swap.... So by the looks of what my system's doing now, think 1 more GB should do it?

The reason i ask, is because COMPUSA has the memory for my computer on sale for $70/1GB, but i could get 2GB for $120 shipped on newegg.

So i could save some money if i buy 2GB, but don't want to buy it if i don't need it.

Thanks a lot.
 
It wont Damage your computer if you turn it..

It simply puts ram in your Swap File For "Longer Use" If a program is used alot, then windows remembers to put that program in the Swap File Basically.

It leaves the ram open for programs not used too much, its a pretty good idea, as your hdd will only see a 0.3s Delay when getting files under hard stress.
 
heyman421 said:
But do i need more than 2GB realistically to disable the swap?
Click to expand...

I wouldnt think so, unless you have a ton of programs running.

For instance, I have 2GB of RAM in my laptop, and right now I have 1,441MB's free, and im only using 371MB from my swap. So it should still show over 1GB free (in my case).

But I dont know if it's just my OS, but when I disable the swap it doesnt actually remove it from the task manager, even though it says it's disabled. Weird...
 
sourov said:
guys what is vitual memory i m bit confused
Click to expand...
Basically it's when a portion of your hard drive acts as RAM, which stores data that is being used, but isnt a priority. High priority data is stored in the physical RAM.
 
OMG!

1 extra gig, turned the page file off on all of my hard drives, and rearanged my partitions a bit, and it completely changed my computer!

wow, it's actually keeping up with me for a change ;)

Thanks for all your help, guys.

No problems so far..... Definitely a LOT faster while multi-tasking, tho.
 
You're serious?!? I've turned off VM on several occasions and have never seen a difference... I chalked it up to the fact that the extra NS it takes Page file to locate and load the the needed information was still simply too fast for any normal human to keep up with.. What,other than multi-tasking sees' a difference?
 
when you've got windows installed on an old 80GB PATA drive it does, apparently.

I prefer to keep my faster SATA drives for storage only, so opted to put my system on my slowest disk, which was my primary reason for wanting to disable VM in the 1st place.
 
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